Verdict
The CMF Buds Neo aren't trying to reinvent affordable wireless audio, and that's probably the right approach. At ₹1,999, they offer a compelling mix of design, comfort, battery life and features that would have been difficult to expect at this price point a few years ago. I particularly like the colourful design and the return of CMF's spinning dial, while the long battery life and useful app-based customisation add plenty of everyday practicality. The pairing process is unnecessarily confusing, and the sound is more functional than exciting, particularly if you're looking for deep bass. But at this price, the Buds Neo don't need to be spectacular; they need to be good enough, reliable and fun. And that's exactly where they make sense.
The Good
- Eye-catching colour options
- Comfortable for long sessions
- Excellent battery life
The Bad
- Pairing process is confusing
- Sound lacks premium refinement
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Design
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Functionality
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Sound Quality
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Battery Life
CMF is expanding its Buds lineup into even more affordable territory with the Buds Neo. At ₹1,999, these are firmly positioned as an entry point into the CMF ecosystem, and that makes their proposition quite interesting. They can be someone’s first pair of true wireless earbuds, or perhaps the only pair they ever need. But CMF is also pitching them towards existing TWS users as an inexpensive backup pair that you can throw into a bag, keep at the office or carry on a trip without worrying too much about them. The company’s own positioning is clear: these are its most accessible earbuds yet, built around essential performance and everyday reliability.
Design
The first thing that grabs your attention about the Buds Neo isn’t the earbuds themselves, but the case. CMF has retained its now-familiar circular spinning wheel, and I’m glad it did. It gives the otherwise compact case a tactile element that makes it more fun to interact with.
The biggest talking point, however, is the colour palette. The Buds Neo comes in some genuinely eye-catching two-tone combinations, with the circular dial contrasting against the body of the case. Of the options, I particularly liked the white-and-orange version. It has enough visual character to stand out without looking like a novelty product.
CMF’s square case and circular dial form part of its signature geometric design language, while the tactile finish and built-in lanyard hole add some practical touches.
The earbuds themselves are comfortable to wear, and the overall design is familiar enough that you don’t need much time to get used to them. They sit securely without feeling particularly intrusive, making them easy to wear for longer listening sessions.
The buds are also IP54-rated, so they have some protection against dust and water splashes. The charging case is rated IPX2, though, so I’d still be a little more careful about where I leave it.
Functionality
The one thing that genuinely irritated me during my time with the Buds Neo was the initial pairing process.
If you don’t read the manual, figuring out how to put the earbuds into pairing mode isn’t particularly intuitive. You need to remove both earbuds from the case and press and hold them for five seconds to enter pairing mode. That’s not something I would have naturally tried, and it became particularly annoying because I was testing these on a trip and didn’t have the manual with me.
It raises a simple question: why not have a physical pairing button on the case, like the one found on some of CMF’s more premium Buds Pro models?
Once you get past that initial hurdle, things are much easier. The Buds Neo support Bluetooth 6.0, Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair and dual-device connectivity.
The Nothing X app also adds quite a bit of functionality. You can customise controls, switch between EQ presets, adjust the sound and activate the low-latency gaming mode.
Sound Quality
The sound profile is, unsurprisingly, fairly average, but that’s not necessarily a criticism at ₹1,999.
The mids are the strongest part of the experience. Vocals come through reasonably clearly, and podcasts and dialogue are perfectly enjoyable. The bass, however, is fairly subdued out of the box. CMF does give you a Bass Enhancement option through the Nothing X app, with two levels of additional bass boost, so you can add some more weight if that’s what you’re after.
There’s also a 12.4mm dynamic driver, six EQ presets, custom EQ adjustment and static spatial audio. But I wouldn’t buy the Buds Neo expecting audiophile-grade performance. That’s not what they’re trying to be. They are designed to deliver a competent listening experience while keeping the price extremely low.
The same applies to the ANC. You get up to 35dB of active noise cancellation, with three levels and an Adaptive mode. It’s a feature that sounds impressive on a ₹1,999 pair of earbuds, although expectations need to be kept in check: this isn’t going to compete with premium ANC earbuds costing several times more.
Battery Life
Battery life is one area where the Buds Neo make a strong case for themselves. CMF claims up to 52 hours of total playback with ANC switched off, dropping to 30 hours with ANC on. They easily lasted me six days, with my usage involving catching up on a few episodes of Widow’s Bay, viewing the occasional YouTube video and listening to music for around an hour every day.
The fast-charging capability is particularly useful: 10 minutes of charging can give you up to 5.5 hours of playback with ANC off. That’s the kind of feature you appreciate when you’re heading out and realise you’ve forgotten to charge your earbuds.